(Fairmont, Mn.)– A renewable energy plant in southern Minnesota has been cited for allegedly releasing wastewater and byproduct into the environment. Stephen Mikkelson of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the alleged violations took place on numerous occasions between 2014 and 2022…
“Inspection of records and then an on-site inspection confirmed that there were violations at the Fairmont facility, at Green Plains, and so those violations elevated into this enforcement action with a $20,000 fine.”
Mikkelson says action taken by the MPCA also spells out requirements for remediation…
“For this case it was letting us know, detailing their actions to be taken to prevent prohibited wastewater releases, resulting from equipment failure or operator error, identify that they’ve inspected and maintained all their equipment to prohibit future problems, and then submit a copy of their procedures to ensure that prohibited wastewater releases are reported immediately, sampled, and submit reports to the MPCA to the fact that they’ve cleaned up the problem and taken care of the source of it.”
The company operates a number of other facilities in the region, including one in Superior.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting station KKOJ in Jackson, Mn.)
